ATB: missed 3NT

[the_dude]

A thorny hand came up with a couple of my students today .. and I had difficulty explaining a good solution.

 

[hv=pc=n&s=sk98h52dqj876c653&n=s42hk9dakt42cakq4&d=w&v=n&b=12&a=1hd1s2d2h3hp4dppp]266|200[/hv]

 

South felt 3♥ was looking for a ♥ stopper for 3NT, he didn't have one and had a bad hand, so he signed off in 4♦.

 

North, following the meta rule that if the opponents bid 2 suits and you are missing one stopper, you bid the one you have .. thought 3♥ showed a heart stopper and asked for a spade stopper.

 

It's possible N should just blast 3NT over 2♥ and hope that the opponents can't take 5 (or 6) fast tricks.

 

However, it seems North's 3♥ just shows a big hand, and it wouldn't hurt South to bid 3♠ showing values (allowing N to now bid 3NT). Of course, it's possible that North could take 3♠ as a 4 card suit and put S in 4♠ even with a known 4-1 split.

 

Any ideas?

[mikeh]

I think you came close to answering your own questions by your comments.

 

1. The meta rule about bidding the stopper you hold doesn't apply when, as here, the cue-bidder hasn't really begun to describe his hand. 3♥ is needed as a generic force. Consider Ax xx AKxxx AKQx....we can't bid 3♠...that would be natural in any logical method (else you invite the opps to rob you blind).

 

2. Since 3♥ announces a non-specific big hand, it behooves S to 'do something intelligent'

 

It is arguable that such might include showing a 4 card spade suit along the way, but (given that 2♦ showed some, albeit modest, values), the frequency with which one would have this hand is minimal. One might well double 1♠ with 4=5 pointed and 6+ hcp, intending, if possible and necessary, to show diamonds later. Otoh, in this auction, when partner is jammed, we need to be able to find the 9 trick game. Partner may have other ideas, but, if so, he can always clarify....our first duty is to help him. Using 3♠ to show values, rather than a suit, seems to me to be more plausible....with a spade card and diamonds, we have to bid diamonds over 1♠. With a spade suit, diamonds and values, we could have doubled 1♠. Therefore the former is more consistent with the auction than the latter interpretation.

 

As an aside, the notion of N blasting 3N makes me feel ill. The double implied spades, the 3N would guarantee something in the suit....admittedly the auction suggests partner has a card or two in the majors, but he still doesn't need to stop spades and, more importantly, we can ask him via 3♥.

[MrAce]

I think you came close to answering your own questions by your comments.

 

 

Thats also what i think

[Fluffy]

Your analysis is good, but I don´t think south´s 3♠ can be taken as natural, it looks like somesort of last train to 3NT, with 4 spades doubling 1♠ is better.

[whereagles]

North's 3H is not well defined. South has little to spare and 4D seems correct. I think north should avoid messing up and bid 3NT. South is bound to have some spades anyway.

[Jinksy]

I'm not crazy about the initial X. S might compete quite heavily in Ss as a result. Why not 1N? At this vul P will surely raise you with as much as a 7 count.

[whereagles]

1NT?? Sorry, but unless you play that as some 19-21, the call seems out of order.